By Philip Iglauer
The Czech Republic’s top legislator said that the dynamic of business exchanges between Korea and Czech Republic has changed since the EU-Korea FTA has come into force.
Milan Stech, the speaker of the Senate, arrived Monday to expand political, cultural and economic relations, and departs for Malaysia on Saturday for a three-day visit before returning to his country.
“The trade deal is already having a real positive effect,” he said.
He is visiting here to upgrade bilateral relations and boost trade and investment on the heels of the high expectations resulting from the EU-Korea free trade agreement going into effect in July.
The trade volume between Korea and the Czech Republic has ballooned 30 times since 1993 to about $3 billion in 2010. Korea is the Czech Republic’s 4th largest trading partner outside the E.U. ― behind China, U.S. and Japan.
Stech met corporate chiefs from such major companies as Doosan Heavy Industries and Hyundai Motor Corporation. He also met with political leaders, such as Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik.
Stech’s visit marks the first visit ever of the Czech Speaker of Senate to Korea. The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the Czech Republic’s lower chamber, visited in 2005.
Stech is leading a delegation of 32 people from his country, including five senators, the deputy minister for trade, the deputy minister for agriculture, 11 business representatives, and a university representative.
Stech said he was impressed with how advanced and developed Korea is upon arriving in Korea, his first trip here. “My initial expectations were fulfilled,” he said. “I immediately noticed Korea’s dynamism, how advanced the country is, and how interested Koreans are in succeeding.”
“This is something we have in common with Koreans,” he added. “Young people in the Czech Republic are keen to break through and succeed.”
He also said he was happy to see fewer smokers on the streets of Seoul than on the streets of his home country.
“One reason might be you don’t see people smoking on the streets here, not as much as you do in the Czech republic,” he said, adding “We also have clean streets, but we have a smoking problem.”
Asked about Korea’s sometimes raucous legislative sessions, Stech said, “It should be the voters to brand politicians with a mark, and tell them how to behave or how not to behave.” He added that what is normal in one country may not be normal in another country.
“In the Chamber of Deputies, we also have lively consultations, but I would not say we ever have physical altercations, and I hope it will remain so for quite some time,” he said.
“We are role models for the people, and we should keep this in mind while we are actually discussing matters in front of the general public.”